London hidden gems

[timeforachangeofseason]

We are off to London in a few weeks. Kids age 7 and 9.
Any hidden gems we need to know about? We are there Saturday and Sunday.
Kids want us to book kidzania, but where else are the absolute must sees?
We've done science museum, Houses of Parliament and natural history museum.
In the past (although they probably can't remember) we've done London Bridge, London eye, Madame Tussaud's, aquarium.
Also, good restaurants that will blow their minds if possible! The old rain forest cafe restaurant has awful reviews now.

Covent Garden.

Not sure some of these are hidden gems. The Natural History/Science museum are pretty mainstream. Mine enjoyed the Museum of the Home, followed by Vietnamese food in one of the many Vietnamese restaurants nearby. Highgate cemetery is fascinating. Eataly is fun.

My lot love Marugame for food. V affordable Japanese, get the kids’ portion of noodles/rice dish, then add tempura (mine get chicken and sweet potato), and unlimited self-serve ice cream from a soft serve machine (the main selling point). There are branches dotted around town.

DD 8 loved shreks adventure and the Tower of London. She also had a brilliant time watching the street performers in Covent Garden.
When we went to Kidzania we ate at the spaghetti house in Westfield afterwards and she loved their pizza. Covent Garden has a fab ice cream place called milk train too

Golden hinde on the south bank.

Corams Field playground. Dd loved it when she was younger and it was great for her to have a run around and a play if we’d done a museum or similar earlier.

Museum of Brands

museumofbrands.com/

And the Foundling Museum.

foundlingmuseum.org.uk/

Grant Museum of Zoology quirky and full of stuff, DD's favourite. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology is similar, round the corner.

These are on the Museum Mile which has a map showing a bunch of less obvious museums (and the British Museum).

Thanks all. Will definitely research lots of these ideas.

Just want to say thank you for all these great ideas! I shall be bookmarking for my own use.

It would be interesting to know what you decided on, OP

Docklands Museum at West India Dock has lots of interactive stuff for kids. Book a session in their Mudlarks gallery which is billed as soft play but has lots of things for primary aged children as well - mine enjoyed it up to year 6. YOu could have a walk around Canary WHarf and look at the skyscrapers and then take the DLR to Cutty Sark for Greenwich - lunch in Greenwich Market and then either the Maritime Museum or the planetarium at the Royal Observatory in the afternoon. Take the boat back into town afterwards.

Also if you get the open top sightseeing bus the day before the river boat ticket is included.